Chapter 68

 

A man who is intelligent, wealthy, and ambitious is never without dominance.

But Liang Jiancheng had always used his knowledge and refinement to mask his dominance.

Likewise, Ming Xi was also assertive.

She, too, used her poverty and shrewdness to mask her assertiveness.

When the two of them stood face to face and allowed that dominance to surface naturally, it was actually their truest selves.

Tonight was the second time Ming Xi had felt Liang Jiancheng’s forcefulness.

The first time was when she had just joined Haiou. They ran into each other in the elevator, and Liang Jiancheng had pressed the door, forcing her to give him an answer.

And this time—his late-night visit, coming to look for the “book” that was her.

Liang Jiancheng’s domineering nature was just like Professor Liang had once described him—arrogant to the bone.

Yet because he was intelligent and well-educated, his pride carried more restraint than most men’s — gentler, more measured, and more tolerant.

Ming Xi met his gaze almost defiantly. Her face remained silent, but her heart was clear and proud.

Sorry — she could not accept this kind of assured, self-confident control he displayed.

When her eyes met his, Liang Jiancheng seemed to sense her emotions. He tugged at the corner of his lips and lowered his head slightly.

“There are still a few things I want to say to you. Is that okay?” he asked again, his voice low, his tone carrying a hint of pleading.

He was asking her to go downstairs with him.

Ming Xi could not afford to offend this distinguished young master, even if she felt that her feeling were being toyed with at this moment.

Sister Lingna’s lesson had taught her this: without the strength and ability to protect yourself, you have no right to fantasize about a man’s sincerity or true affection.

Ming Xi lifted her chin slightly, her gaze calm and clear, then nodded.

She agreed.

Liang Jiancheng nodded as well and politely released her hand.

His lips moved, and he said softly, “I’m sorry.”

He had been impatient and had overstepped.

Ming Xi turned her head slightly, pretending not to notice. She looked completely indifferent.

When she walked out of the reading nook, her shoulder brushed lightly against Liang Jiancheng’s chest.

“Cai Ni, I’ll walk Mr. Liang out,” Ming Xi said as she entered the dining room, speaking to Cai Ni, who wished she could bury herself in the pile of chestnuts.

Cai Ni nodded hurriedly. “Yes, yes, yes!”

Thank goodness! This great Buddha was finally leaving!

…And thank goodness Ming Xi came back in time tonight. Only Ming Xi could send Boss Liang away!

Cai Ni stole a glance at Liang Jiancheng’s departing figure, then quickly turned her head back. Some people were undeniably handsome, but their presence was far too oppressive. Just being in the same space with them made you even conscious of your own breathing.

For some reason, Cai Ni simply couldn’t deal with people surnamed Liang — whether Professor Liang or Boss Liang. Earlier, when she had opened the door and seen Liang Jiancheng standing there, her eyes had nearly popped out. After he entered, every minute felt awkward and torturous. When she finally ran out of small talk, she could only ask if he wanted some water. Thankfully he thanked her and agreed, which allowed her to escape to the kitchen to boil water.

The timing was perfect — the kettle had just finished boiling when Ming Xi returned.

…

Liang Jiancheng and Ming Xi went downstairs together. The cup of hot water on the coffee table was still steaming.

Cai Ni walked over. Since Liang Jiancheng hadn’t taken a single sip, she picked it up, blew on it lightly, and took a small taste.

“Hiss—!”

Ouch, that was scalding hot!

—

Ming Xi and Liang Jiancheng walked down the stairs side by side.

Earlier, when she had returned with Ji Runze, they had been chatting and hadn’t noticed that Liang Jiancheng’s black sedan was parked by the roadside.

A tall streetlamp stood nearby.

The wind brushed through the street, stirring the hems of their clothes.

Standing beneath the lamp, their shadows stretched long and overlapped.

When the hearts were still, the shadows moved.

Occasionally, cars passed by, their taillights flickering like flowing beams of light.

Standing at the street corner at night, the wind blew hard. Some words couldn’t be spoken aloud — only teenage boys could shout their confessions.

For Liang Jiancheng, doing anything resembling a confession already felt unbelievable.

He turned and opened the passenger door, signaling for Ming Xi to get in so they could talk.

What exactly did Liang Jiancheng want to say? Ming Xi half understand, but decided to play dumb.

As she sat down, her gaze briefly fell on an exquisitely packaged luxury shopping bag on the passenger seat. Inside, a black velvet box was faintly visible. During her time at Longmao, she had dealt with many brands and immediately recognized it as a famous jewelry brand.

Thinking of the awkward misunderstanding earlier that day, Ming Xi restrained her “overthinking” tonight and forced herself not to guess whether this expensive gift was the reason Liang Jiancheng had asked her to come downstairs.

Maybe it was meant for that Miss Burberry instead.

She gently picked up the gift bag and placed it on top of the center console.

At the same time, Liang Jiancheng got into the car. He noticed her small movement but didn’t rush to speak.

He started the engine and turned on the heater.

Soon, warm air slowly spread from the vents.

Ming Xi tilted her head slightly and realized Liang Jiancheng had been watching her.

He had returned to his usual gentle, patient demeanor. When she looked back at him, he smiled.

Wasn’t today’s tennis date enough entertainment for Liang Jiancheng? Ming Xi blinked at him.

With polite compliance and practiced courtesy, she masked her faintly malicious speculation, putting on the appearance of someone ready to listen attentively.

Liang Jiancheng smiled faintly again. Before he had even spoken his confession, he already felt inexplicably defeated.

He had to admit that he had been confident for too many years. His circumstances determined how he was treated. Even though he advocated equality, he had still enjoyed the composure and comfort of someone in a superior position.

But feelings were never something one could take for granted.

Yet in the current environment, outstanding personal conditions make most romantic pursuits feel almost taken for granted. Under such circumstances, as a beneficiary of privilege, he tended to take feelings lightly. Whether it was profound love or shallow infatuation, in his mind they were nothing more than forms of individualistic possessiveness.

He belittled such things — yet tonight, he was doing exactly that.

He wanted to possess Ming Xi.

To possess her as a person — her body and mind, her time, and even her social relationships.

His motive tonight was painfully obvious. Deep down, not only did he possess a strong male instinct, he also carried the competitive desire of a male animal.

And yet, in the brief moment when he met Ming Xi’s gaze just now, he became clearly aware of one thing: Ming Xi was examining his behavior tonight with the same understanding.

The car interior, with the heater running, gradually grew warmer. Hot air brushed against their ears.

Liang Jiancheng began to speak, his pace unhurried.

Ming Xi felt the tips of her ears growing warm.

Perhaps because the heat inside the car was spreading so freely, the look on Liang Jiancheng’s face — his eyes, his expression, even the tone of his voice — carried a soft warmth that wrapped around her.

Even the words he spoke were gentle and moving.

Liang Jiancheng said that he no longer wanted to be her friend.

Ming Xi blinked. “Was I a bad friend to you?”

“Of course not.”

“Then am I not worthy of being Boss Liang’s friend?”

“…How could that be?” Liang Jiancheng shook his head directly. She was deliberately twisting his meaning, yet he wasn’t annoyed. Instead, he looked at her patiently and deeply, then expressed his true feelings clearly: he had fallen for her.

“So, Liang Jiancheng… are you confessing?” Ming Xi stopped beating around the bush.

“You came all the way over in the middle of the night just to tell me you don’t want to be friends anymore?” Though she knew that wasn’t what he meant, she asked lightly anyway.

Her tone was relaxed, not sharp at all, with a faint curve at the corner of her lips.

“Yes. I don’t want to be friends anymore.” Liang Jiancheng followed her lead. After a short pause, he picked up the gift bag on the center console and took out the velvet box inside — but did not open it.

“Ming Xi, maybe what I’m saying now is sudden and unexpected, but I still want to express my feelings to you. I know very clearly that what I feel for you has already gone beyond the boundaries of ordinary friendship between a man and a woman. I can’t say exactly when my feelings changed. At first, I truly treated you as my father’s student. Later, I was happy just being your friend. But since we’ve known each other… I seem to have lost my clarity. You have me in a daze.” (tn: the last sentence was originally in english)

The last sentence was too hard to say out loud, so Liang Jiancheng switched to English.

Ming Xi froze slightly, her eyes clear. More than surprise, she seemed to be scrutinizing him.

Before Liang Jiancheng confessed, she had already examined his motives tonight. But now there was no need to continue examining him — instead, she needed to examine herself.

Liang Jiancheng would not confess without reason. The real question was whether she wanted to accept this sudden affection.

It sounded good on the surface — a man like Liang Jiancheng confessing to her. But she couldn’t accept it just because it seemed like a “good deal.”

Love was never about getting a bargain. If she approached it with that mindset, she might not gain anything — and instead lose herself.

Ming Xi thought quietly, her expression calm and composed. Out of courtesy, she nodded a moment later, as if telling him that she had heard everything clearly.

“You want to change our relationship as friends?” she asked.

Liang Jiancheng nodded and stated his intention directly, with a touch of dominance:

“I want to be your boyfriend. Is that okay?”

“…”

Maybe the heater really was too warm. Ming Xi felt slightly dry-mouthed.

Did she want to date Liang Jiancheng? Make him her boyfriend?

Her answer was no.

No hesitation. She truly didn’t want to.

If she hadn’t seen those gossip messages about Liang Jiancheng in the Zhongjin chat group today, the ambiguous atmosphere between them earlier would indeed have been beautiful. She had lowered her guard and nearly sunk into it.

However, they were still just friends, and already his interactions with other women had affected her mood. If they became lovers, she would probably get hurt.

Getting hurt was one thing — the worst would be losing her self-respect.

Liang Jiancheng’s conditions were excellent. That he would take the initiative to confess was, in a sense, an honor to her. But not every honor was worth looking up to. She was young, had just grabbed hold of an upward path in life, and needed all her strength. She didn’t want to blunt her edge for the sake of romance.

So… she was sorry.

She had no desire at all to develop a romantic relationship with Liang Jiancheng.

Besides, she had signed a responsibility agreement with Haiou Company that explicitly forbade overly close relationships with people from competing companies.

“I’m sorry… Liang Jiancheng.” Ming Xi pressed her lips together, still smiling, and looked at him calmly. “I can’t agree.”

The answer seemed expected — and yet still carried unavoidable regret.

Why?

Liang Jiancheng turned his head. His face was extremely calm. There was no shock, no surprise, not even disbelief. Still, he wanted to know — what exactly made him unacceptable to her?

“Ming Xi, what do you think of me?” The question sounded somewhat helpless. Even the most confident man needed time to digest rejection — unless he had never taken the feelings seriously to begin with.

Facing Liang Jiancheng’s restrained and subtle gaze, Ming Xi felt a slight stir of emotion, a moment of wavering — but more than that, she felt firm in choosing herself. Still, she admitted her selfishness: she didn’t want to lose Liang Jiancheng as a friend.

Compared to becoming lovers, she preferred to remain friends.

She lightly licked her lips. Although she hesitated for a moment, she still frankly said what she was thinking: “You’re great, Liang Jiancheng. You’re the most charming young man I’ve ever met. In my heart, your charm is second only to Professor Liang.”

As she spoke, her brows curved with a smile, making no attempt to hide her appreciation.

Liang Jiancheng almost laughed. He asked faintly, “Really?”

“Absolutely genuine.” Ming Xi nodded.

Liang Jiancheng shook his head with regret, then said a name:

“Is it Ji Runze?”

He asked calmly.

Ming Xi lifted her eyelids in confusion, then understanding dawned. Liang Jiancheng was far too clever. Today, when she and Ji Runze appeared in front of him as a “couple,” he had already connected the dots.

Actually…

Whether true or not, if she were to date someone, Ji Runze would indeed be the most suitable choice. Her philosophy was that “best” was not always “most suitable,” but “most suitable” was always the best.

Ming Xi let out a soft “oh,” blinked, and said lightly, “What a coincidence — he agreed to be my boyfriend today.”

“…”

Liang Jiancheng pressed his lips together, digesting the news. His expression showed hesitation and calculation. Logic and emotion clashed fiercely in his mind.

After a moment, he looked at her again with unmistakable dominance, a blunt, almost arrogant expression appearing on his face.

Ming Xi, meanwhile, carried a calm, fearless steadiness within her.

After several seconds of eye contact, Liang Jiancheng spoke:

“…Ming Xi, I’m guessing you asked Ji Runze to act as cover, or privately asked him to help you handle some things, right?” He stated it plainly — and he was almost certainly right.

Ming Xi: …

She chuckled slightly, a hint of annoyance in her voice.

She knew Liang was a strong-willed man with a sharp mind. Ji Runze wasn’t just an excuse — but he was also a contrasting figure, someone Liang Jiancheng couldn’t help but compare himself to.

Liang Jiancheng wasn’t wrong. She treated him and Ji Runze the same. Since she had rejected Liang Jiancheng, her “relationship” with Ji Runze couldn’t possibly be real either.

Liang Jiancheng took a deep breath and looked at the person in the passenger seat with intense focus. After thinking for a moment, he explained his reasoning: “Ming Xi, you have your reasons to reject me. But these days, I’ve been very clear about one thing — our feelings are mutual. If you had feelings for me, it would be impossible for you to truly become Ji Runze’s girlfriend.”

He directly exposed the subtle, ambiguous yet undeniably real connection between them.

Ming Xi’s breathing faltered briefly, then steadied. Her voice was even calmer than her thoughts.

“You’re right. I do have feelings for you — but they’re just normal attraction toward the opposite sex. You’re handsome, have good temperament, a strong career, and money. Isn’t it normal for a girl like me to be attracted to you?” She spoke lightly, then added with gentle firmness, “If my attraction had cause you to misunderstood, it’s because you underestimate me.”

Liang Jiancheng fell silent.

Ming Xi continued:

“Even though your conditions are excellent and you’re very attractive, my own feelings far outweighed my attraction to you. Choosing a boyfriend isn’t just about who you are — it’s about who I am. Liang Jiancheng, let me ask you: what kind of person do you think I am?”

What kind of person was she? Why had he fallen for her?

Ming Xi believed he could answer. But before he could speak, she continued: “You’re far more capable than I am, and there are things you understand better than I do. Relationships aren’t just about feelings. There are so many other factors—personality, age, even family background. All of these matter. Like Miss. Zhang you dated before, I believe you made a very detailed consideration when you with her. I’m the same.”

“You said I’m serious, focused, and responsible. I appreciate that. You’re right — Ji Runze and I are only friends right now. But if I had to choose one of you as my boyfriend, I would choose him first.”

Liang Jiancheng: “…”

Ming Xi: “…” She realized she had said too much and fell silent too.

For a moment, an aggressive tension filled the space between them.

Then it slowly faded.

Liang Jiancheng smiled helplessly. He had dug a pit for himself, thinking he could jump into it, but in the end, Ji Runze ended up falling in instead.

After a long pause, he let out a soft sound.

“Oh.”

“So… we do have feelings for each other, right?” Liang Jiancheng asked again, humbly, with compromise and self-mockery.

Ming Xi admitted openly:

“Yes. I have feelings for you, and I also have feelings for Ji Runze. I can be attracted to two men at the same time — but I can’t have two boyfriends, can I? Mr. Liang, sorry, but you really were one step too late…”

After saying that, she smiled at him matter-of-factly.

Liang Jiancheng clenched his teeth — then smiled as well.

Ming Xi deliberately made her words light and playful, to make one thing clear: to her, Liang Jiancheng and Ji Runze were no different — just friends. Ji Runze playing the role of her boyfriend today was simply a favor between friends.

“Two boyfriends… you… you’re dreaming!” Liang Jiancheng didn’t know why he blurted that out, his tone half-joking as well.

Suddenly, he understood: Ming Xi didn’t want their relationship to become stiff and awkward.

If Ji Runze hadn’t appeared, things between him and Ming Xi could have progressed slowly. He had patience and plans to nurture this relationship. Instead, everything had been disrupted by that Peking University guy.

“In life, you have to have some dreams, right, Mr. Liang?” Ming Xi blinked, her eyes smiling as she caught his words.

Her expression was as always — bright, lively, smiling at him without anger or mockery. Lightness and persistence had always been the core of her character.

And also the reason he fell for her. Liking someone always needs a reason. Because she was so vivid and pleasing to look at, it was easy to doubt himself — to wonder if he had simply fallen for her looks.

Liang Jiancheng finally let out a long sigh. Sitting still in the driver’s seat, he looked out at the quiet late-night street beyond the windshield.

The night was calm.

He smiled softly, self-mocking yet gentle.

Indeed — he had been too impatient.

—

“Liang Jiancheng, are you alright?” Ming Xi tilted her head slightly from the passenger seat, her expression warm yet faintly detached. There was a hint of caution, but it was mostly relief.

If he was willing, she could pretend that his confession tonight had never happened.

When it came to handling emotional situations, Ming Xi possessed an almost innate talent. This was also one of the reasons she had become a top sales performer. She had an accurate and flexible grasp of human nature, able to keenly sense what others needed.

Just like what Sister CC often wondered — why Ming Xi rarely pushed products repeatedly, yet still achieved such a high conversion rate.

Because she understood people.

And just like now, she knew that Liang Jiancheng, just like herself, did not want their relationship to grow distant.

Ming Xi’s gentle concern did ease Liang Jiancheng’s awkwardness and frustration somewhat. But for a moment, he didn’t know what to say. He didn’t want to speak against his heart, so he naturally switched to English: he said he was fine, thank you for asking.

Ming Xi hummed softly, glanced at her watch, and suggested, “…Then I’ll go upstairs?”

“Wait.” Liang Jiancheng still wanted to give her the gift. “This is for you.”

Ming Xi absolutely could not accept such an expensive piece of jewelry.

“It’s too valuable. I can’t take it.” She waved her hand, feeling as though she were being bribed.

Liang Jiancheng regained his composure. His gaze turned slightly calm as he repeated the very words she had once used when she first came to his door with a gift: “Once a gift is given, how can it be taken back?”

“…” Ming Xi laughed faintly, remembering their first meeting as well. Still, she pushed the gift back toward him.

“Liang Jiancheng, do you really want me to be honest? Rejecting you tonight was already hard enough. If I accept something this expensive too, how am I supposed to face you and Professor Liang? Cai Ni and I would have to move out of the apartment overnight.”

Liang Jiancheng laughed. He had heard the same line from her once before.

“That won’t be necessary.” After a pause, he added, “If you think of this as the landlord’s reverse tactic, I think that works too.”

The sudden joke made Ming Xi laugh.

Then Liang Jiancheng’s face took on a mischievous, almost rogue-like smile as he repeated the exact words she had once said during their first meeting:

“Big brother, please don’t make things hard for me, okay? Big brother, can you let me in…?”

He recited it gently, playfully, and with deliberate teasing.

In truth, he was the one who had been making things hard for her all along.

He meant to ease the awkwardness by joking, but Ming Xi instantly grew embarrassed and annoyed. Catching the teasing glint in his eyes, she realized she was being toyed with.

Ming Xi: …

She was getting angry.

She really was.

Blushing and irritated, she pointed at him with her slender finger: “Liang Jiancheng, how did I not realize before that you’re this kind of person!”

Liang Jiancheng remained easygoing — his expression both pleasant and infuriating. “Ming Xi, I was too impatient tonight. I have to admit — you still don’t know me well enough.”

It sounded almost like he was offering her a way to step down gracefully.

“Oh, if Brother Liang can think like that, then I feel completely unburdened.” Ming Xi immediately went along with it.

“There’s no need for you to feel burdened at all. Even if you rejected me tonight, it won’t stop me from continuing to admire you,” Liang Jiancheng said openly and generously.

Then he paused.

“What did you just call me?”

Ming Xi: “Brother Liang…”

Liang Jiancheng was not the type to suffer losses. He quickly made a demand.

“Say it again.”

Ming Xi: “……”

“Don’t you call men a few years older than you ‘Brother’ all the time? Including Brother Han from my company.” Liang Jiancheng smiled as he pressed the issue, then said more seriously, “As the man you just rejected, I’m truly heartbroken right now. Boss Ming, please compensate me a little — otherwise I definitely won’t be able to sleep tonight.”

Shameless… absolutely shameless!

Ming Xi turned her head and pretended to be clueless.

“How do I compensate you?” She bit her lip, clearly unwilling.

“Call me ‘Brother’ a few times.” Liang Jiancheng’s handsome face actually took on a sorrowful look.

“Forget it. I’m definitely not sleeping tonight. I…”

“Brother! Brother! Brother—brother—brother!”

Liang Jiancheng finally burst into laughter — the kind of genuine laughter he had barely shown all night.

He suddenly said something in English that Ming Xi didn’t immediately catch. Then he placed the prepared gift into her hands.

“Take this as your Christmas present from your brother. Go upstairs. I’m heading home to sleep early. Good night.”

Ming Xi: …

Before she could react, she was practically “kicked” out of the car.

Her mind felt dazed.

It took her a while to remember what Liang Jiancheng had just said in English. Translated, it meant he’d called her an overly naughty little pigeon.

Ming Xi: !!!

How had she not realized before that Liang Jiancheng was this good at mocking people?! Not only was he implying that she had stood him up, he had even teased her into chirping “Brother” over and over…

Climbing the stairs, Ming Xi stomped her foot twice.

…

That night, Ming Xi took a long shower. When Liang Jiancheng got home, he too lingered in the bathroom for a long time. Afterward, wrapped in a bathrobe, he went into his study. On the desk lay the book he’d retrieved earlier under the pretense of borrowing—and his phone.

There was an unread text message on his phone, sent by Ming Xi.

“Liang Jiancheng, thank you for the gift. Because it’s very valuable, I will keep it safe. If you ever want it back, you can ask for it anytime. This message can serve as evidence. Brother, thank you for the Christmas gift. Your little sister is deeply grateful.”

Liang Jiancheng gripped his phone tightly.

Old Liang used to say he had a talent for irritating people. Now it seemed he’d finally met his match.

In this regard, she was truly gifted.

She could anger him—and flirt with him—at the same time.

Liang Jiancheng didn’t even want to reply to such a formal message. Before falling asleep, he stood by the window, gazing at the deep night outside, and sighed slightly before replying with a simple “—Oh.”

The next morning, Ming Xi ran into the peak-hour elevator rush at work. The elevator was packed with employees—among them a face far more striking and polished than the rest—Liang Jiancheng.

What a rare sight, running into Liang Jiancheng during morning rush hour.

She greeted him with a glance and was about to quietly turn around and press the button.

Liang Jiancheng, who stood right by the control panel, had already reached out and pressed her floor for her.

“Thank you…” Ming Xi said softly.

Liang Jiancheng replied politely and formally, “You’re welcome.”

Good, Ming Xi secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Liang Jiancheng was still very gentlemanly and well-mannered.

Yes, of course he had to maintain his composure, confidence, and even personal charm as a man…

Otherwise, how could he attract a beautiful girl who already had a “boyfriend”…

Liang Jiancheng lifted his chin slightly. When Ming Xi happened to glance at him, he met her gaze—then coolly looked away.

In his first Princeton economics class, he saw a sentence in the textbook: Too eager to sell makes the buyer doubt the value. (the sentence was originally in english)

Roughly translated, it could be understood as—being too eager is not a good deal.

Economics, after all, is a discipline born of human nature and desire.

Sometimes, one had to admit—some things really did work the same way.

Previous     TOC     Next